The hood is actually still carbon fiber, I think i have some better pictures of it in "My Garage" or you can go to photobucket and my profile is named x7pilot
http://s615.photobucket.com/albums/tt232/x7pilot/ .
I had planned on painting it, but it grew on me before I got it to the shop

The headers, I have heard were pretty much a waste of money, with little to no gains, actually lose torque down low.
I am running the automatic also, this is my first and I am liking it, just need to get the upgrade valve body to tighten up my shifts.